Although rocked by unavailability forcing five changes from the previous week Salisbury made the long trip to Devon and, roared on by the boisterous support, gave everything to achieve a very good away win. The Green and Whites remain unbeaten in 2017 and are working really hard to turn their season around.
From the off, the pack tore into their opponents in the loose and the front five of Aiden Gill, Gareth Blackborrow, Gary Williamson, Tom Ranaboldo and Liam Gilbert marched the Brixham scrum backwards at the set piece. The loose forwards tackled like demons led by Johnny Kay and skipper Josh Green and with openside James Kay making his return from injury and linking superbly Salisbury had plenty of territory. It was from a scrummage close to the home line that Green touched down for a pushover score with Tom Lane kicking the conversion points.
Half backs Dave Tonge and Matt Loader were marshalling the game superbly, continually varying the point of attack, and wings Jon Goldsmith and Ollie Bowden were a constant thorn in the Fishermens’ side. Lane’s siege gun of a boot made territorial gains to force the hosts back as well as adding a penalty before half time to which Brixham responded with a kick of their own from Ben Lovell to make it 3-13.
Brixham pushed forward in the second half and threatened with a series of pick and drives and attempted to run the ball whenever possible but the defensive wall that was Rob Larcombe, who had clambered from his sick bed to take part, and Gerrard Narrahn making his debut, was not to be breached. The pressure told and Salisbury lost Gilbert and then Bennett to the bin for ten minutes apiece but they merely intensified their already prestigious defensive efforts and the sight of prop Gill catching and dumping Ed Barnes the home fly half typified the performance.
With the clock ticking down Brixham scored through Tom Goodman but a missed conversion left them too much to do and Ed Barne’s try in the last minute was not enough. Salisbury regained possession through the forwards and Tonge kicked for touch and no side to the delight of the visiting players and supporters alike.
A jubilant skipper Green said “We owed the incredible travelling support a performance and we gave them it in the first half. It got a bit close for comfort in the second half but, all in all, another deserved win. Onwards!”.
Coach Neil Loader also commented on the support calling it “Fantastic” and “Humbling”.
This week Salisbury host high flying Camborne at Castle Road hoping to maintain their 100% record for 2017 and welcome any support, kick off is at 2.15pm.
Report – Neil Tonge
Photos – John Palmer